MIDWAY – Just down the hall from Dolly Parton was Henry Ford. Turn left, and you get Serena Williams and Dr. Seuss.

They were at Compassion Christian Church, as were a handful of other historic figures, as part of a living wax museum staged by a class learning English as a second language.

“They chose anyone from American history,” said their instructor, Nancy Holman Maier.

The students did their own research and presented the lives of each of their figures.

Through Savannah Technical College, the class members – from literally across the globe – are learning English, with classroom space provided by Compassion Christian Church. The class members hail from France, South Korea, Senegal, Colombia, Brazil, Haiti and Moldova. That covers the continents of South America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

Phil Fincher, pastor of Compassion Christian in Midway, reached out to STC to provide a space. The students, all adults, are there every morning from 9 a.m.-12 noon.

Along with Dolly, Ford, Serena and Dr. Seuss, students represented pianist Van Cliburn, artist Andy Warhol, filmmaker Steven Spielberg, former Special Operations Command leader Adm. Stanley McRaven and Lilias Folan, who brought yoga to millions with her show on PBS.

The idea spring from a dinner with a friend, whose grandson said they had done something similar at his school, Frank Long Elementary.

“I thought that would be a wonderful thing to do with my class, even though they are adults,” Maier said.